Article 129 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
المادة 129 من نظام الأحوال الشخصية · الفصل الثاني: الحضانة
A custodian who is a parent may not take the child abroad for more than 90 days a year, and a custodian who is not a parent for more than 30 days a year, without the required consent.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأحكام النظامية ذات العلاقة، يخضع السفر بالمحضون إلى خارج المملكة للأحكام الآتية:
1- لا يجوز للحاضن إذا كان أحد الوالدين السفر بالمحضون إلى خارج المملكة مدة تزيد على (تسعين) يوماً في السنة إلا بموافقة الوالد الآخر، والولي على النفس في حال وفاة الوالد.
2- لا يجوز للحاضن من غير الوالدين السفر بالمحضون إلى خارج المملكة مدة تزيد على (ثلاثين) يوماً في السنة إلا بموافقة الوالدين أو أحدهما في حال وفاة الآخر، والولي على النفس في حال وفاتهما.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 129 explained in plain English
This article regulates a custodian's travel with the child in custody outside the Kingdom, subject to what the relevant legal provisions provide. It distinguishes between two types of custodian:
1- If the custodian is one of the parents:
- The custodian may not travel with the child in custody outside the Kingdom for a period of more than 90 days a year.
- Except with the consent of the other parent, or of the guardian of the person if the parent has died.
2- If the custodian is not one of the parents (for example, a grandmother):
- The custodian may not travel with the child in custody outside the Kingdom for a period of more than 30 days a year.
- Except with the consent of the parents, or of one of them if the other has died, or of the guardian of the person if both have died.
The restriction the article sets therefore concerns exceeding these periods during the year, and then the stated consent is required. Article 134, on visitation, refers to taking into account the provisions of this article.
Because the article refers to the relevant legal provisions, there may be other travel requirements that this text does not address, and it is advisable to consult a lawyer specializing in personal status matters before deciding in a particular case.
Practical example
A custodian mother wanted to travel with her son outside the Kingdom for 4 months in the year. Because the period exceeds 90 days, she needs the father's consent, or the consent of the guardian of the person if the father has died.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Active contributorFrequently asked questions about Article 129 of the Saudi Personal Status Law
How many days may a custodian mother travel abroad with the child?
A custodian who is a parent may not travel with the child in custody outside the Kingdom for more than 90 days a year without the consent of the other parent, or of the guardian of the person if the parent has died.
What period is allowed if the custodian is the grandmother?
A custodian who is not a parent may not travel with the child in custody for more than 30 days a year without the consent of the parents, or of one of them if the other has died, or of the guardian of the person if both have died.
Does this article apply to travel inside the Kingdom?
No. The article concerns traveling with the child in custody outside the Kingdom.
More articles on Custody and Visitation
- Article 100
Whatever may be regarded as property may serve as compensation in khul, but the compensation may not be the waiver of any of the children's rights or of their custody.
كلُّ ما صحَّ اعتباره مالاً صحَّ أن يكون عوضاً في الخلع، ولا يجوز أن يكون العوض إسقاط أي حق من حقوق الأولاد أو حضانتهم.
- Article 124
The article defines custody (hadana) as protecting a person who cannot manage for himself from what harms him, raising him and attending to his interests, including education and medical treatment.
الحضانة هي حفظ من لا يستقل بنفسه عما يضره، وتربيته والقيام على مصالحه بما في ذلك التعليم والعلاج.
- Article 125
The article requires three conditions in a custodian: full legal capacity, the ability to raise, protect and care for the child in custody, and freedom from serious infectious diseases.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به المادة (العاشرة) من هذا النظام، يشترط أن تتوافر في الحاضن الشروط الآتية: 1- كمال الأهلية. 2- القدرة على تربية المحضون وحفظه ورعايته. 3- الس
- Article 126
The article adds special conditions: a female custodian must not be married to a stranger to the child unless the child's interest requires otherwise, and a male custodian must be a mahram relative of a female child and have a woman fit for custody living with him.
دون إخلال بما تضمنته المادة (الخامسة والعشرون بعد المائة) من هذا النظام، يتعين التقيد بالشروط الآتية: 1- إذا كان الحاضن امرأة، فيجب أن تكون غير متزوجة برجل أجنب
- Article 127
Custody is a duty of both parents while the marriage lasts; if they separate it goes to the mother, then the father, the mother's mother, then the father's mother, and the court may depart from this order in the child's interest.
1- الحضانة من واجبات الوالدين معاً ما دامت الزوجية قائمة بينهما، فإن افترقا فتكون الحضانة للأم، ثم الأحق بها على الترتيب الآتي: الأب، ثم أم الأم، ثم أم الأب، ثم
- Article 128
The right to custody is lost if one of the conditions in Articles 125 and 126 is missing, if the custodian moves to a place with the intention of residing that harms the child's interest, or if the person entitled stays silent for more than a year without excuse.
مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة ذات العلاقة، يسقط الحق في الحضانة في الحالات الآتية: 1- إذا تخلف أحد الشروط المذكورة في المادتين (الخامسة والعشرين بعد المائة) و(ال
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.